If you built a mountain rifle?

[high country]

already have a couple

 I did the light gun with big scope thing.....was too odd for me.

[high country]

I can't find a pic of my christensen in 300rum wearing a 4-12x50 tds swaro. that was the cats meow for packing, but it broke every scope it ever wore, excluding a 4200.

[ing]

300 Weatherby Magnum Mark V Accumark and a Leupold VXIII 4.5x14x50.  I guess you could argue that it's too heavy for a mountain rifle, but it worked great in Montana this year.  Next year my mountain rifle is actually gonna be a revolver.  Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter with 71/2" barrel.  It shoots great with Hornady 300 gr XTP's.  It's nice and lite.  No more swapping a rifle back and forth from shoulder to shoulder.  I will have to get closer, but what the hell thats all part of the fun rite?

[257 Wby Mag]

Heres my Mountain rifle in action in Montucky this year.

[Curly]

I'm taking notes.  This is a good discussion as I'd like to get a lightweight rifle someday.

I like the idea someone mentioned of the .284 Win.............

[addicted]

I'm taking notes.  This is a good discussion as I'd like to get a lightweight rifle someday.

thought it would be. been thinking about it for awhile.

[addicted]

How about Glass(not your riflescope)

What Binos. would you go big for efficiency or keep it light.
Spotting scope? pack one along or just get some good sized binos?
I saw those redfeild ones in the catolog today. interesting.

[high country]

I have gone round and round on the glass thing. I like the 15x56 swaro's and a small light pair of binos. lately I am beyond impressed at the cost to value of the leupold yosemite 6x30's. for a one and done glass I like my 12x50 leica's. if I had a sheep tag in AK where I had to count anulars I would haul a spotter, but for my general tags I take the swaros and small binos or the leicas.

[Ratdog68]

If it's muzzle loader season... I like my T/C Cherokee in .45 cal.  Super light, very traditional.  Or... if carrying something a bit heavier is needed... my T/C Hawken in .50 or my T/C Renegade in .54 (percussion, all of 'em).

If it's modern season... I've got three to choose from.  For heavy cover, my model 94 Winchester in .30/30.  I made a single point tactical style sling for it... the sling mounts to the rifle via a leather/velcro collar I made so I'm not drilling into my 1940ish serial numbered oldie.  If I want the glass on it... My Remington 700 .30-06 will drop just about anything I hit with it.  I had the trigger done for a nice light/crisp break, I swapped the ADL platform for a BDL synthetic stock and a Kwik Klip drop magazine conversion and have a Leupy VXii in 2-7x40.  At present, I'm building an AR15 in 6.8SPC II with a 16" barrel.  I'm gonna keep this one with Red Dot sighting for quick target acquisition.  Barnes just introduced a 95 gr TTSX bullet for this caliber which will affectively open (4petals) at 1600 fps which will make this round effective to 400 yds.  Muzzle velocity approaches 3,000 fps.  Heavy brush is the norm in W. WA... so big glass isn't really needed.  This round will drop a black bear as well as big hogs... deer and yotes should be a cake walk for this round.

Instead of $3K+ for a single (try to impress everyone else with how much money I spent) rifle to fit all situations... I prefer to have options available to me for varied hunts.  However... I prescribe to the line of thinking that when I pick up a bolt action, they're all the same brand.  If I pick up a smoke pole, they all function the same, if I pick up an auto-loader... same thing... want the mechanics all the same.

If it's archery... well... last year I made myself a longbow (American Flatbow) of Osage Orange, backed with bamboo, and a little Bocote on the riser. that tillered out to 65# @ 28" of draw and is 72" in length... and, it's a shooter too.  The 60+ hrs I put into it and careful measurements all along the build... it's pretty sweet on the eyes too.  Very smooth and finished with Tru-Oil. 

[coachcw]

I really like the t3 in 300wsm , with a good set of sicks and a compact leopod 3x9 . loaded with 180 grain fussions inside of 350 yards.10x42 liecas will do to range the game.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Blued Tikka T3 Lite in .30-06 with Konus 3x9x40mm Scope (6.5 lbs.).  Out the door new for $650.00!  My go to rifle when there's a mountain to climb!   

[addicted]

I change my mind. I would like a sako finnlight instead of the kimber. and a schmidt and bender summit 2.5-10x40.

[JackOfAllTrades]

My mountain rifle
Model 700 BDL 30-06
Nikon 3-9x40

9 pounds
But seems light and packable to me

But you're young...

Mountain rifle or Alpine rifle..?  I've packed a Ruger 77 for years from sea level to 7,000 feet. A sporterized 03-A3 for many more years. Both are near/more than 9 pounds. Wildcat and a 30-06.

If I'm up high, I'm thinkin something down around or maybe less than 7 pounds with scope is in order. That cuts out most stainless choices. The T3 light and Win70 Featherweight come to mind.

Short action. 270-308 or 308Ackley. Maybe a Savage 110 series single shot bolt head with left port feed and right hand bolt. Accutrigger. A Douglas fluted barrel with an 11 degree inset target crown. A McMillan glass stock that's drilled out in the butt.  Stainless pillar and glass bedding. I don't know if there's enough metal there to mill a Savage action for Ruger rings, but I'd look into that. There are 'better' scopes, but I think I'd be quite happy with a Leupold 4-12x50 scope with an elevation target turret.

If it was a magnum rifle I'd like a Decelorator recoil system, but I'm trying to cut weight and have extreme accuracy. I could care less how much it kicks.

I packed my sons Marlin XL7 in 270win for a bit last fall. Damn near fits the bill as a lightweight Alpine rifle with a bunch of features and enough cartridge to get the job done.

-Steve

[Harold]

if i had a mtn rifle, it would be simple. winchester model 70 featherweight in .270 with a leupold 3-9x40. simple, under 7lbs, straight to the point and will get the job done as good as anything else. 

[high country]

Steve, why got to the expense of the ruger rings when they are sooooooo heavy?